Method of making d-handles for shovels and the like



w. A. READY 1,842,949

METHOD OF'MAKING D-HANDLES FOR 'SHOVELS AND THE LIKE Jan. 26, 1932.

Original Filed Sept. 4, 1930 Patented Jan. 26, 1932 UNITED-STATES TENT FFICE/"1' WILLIAM READY, OF BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS METHOD or MAKING nHnimLEs non sHovELs AND THELIKE Original application fi1edSeptember4, 1930, Serial No. 479,666. Divided and this application filed March -9, 1931." Serial No. 521,181. g T 7 My invention aims to provide improvements in the methodof making D-handles for shovels and the like. 1

This application is a division of my pendingapplication Serial No. 479,666, filed September 4; 1930. 1 i In thedr-awings which illustrate a preferred embodiment'of my invention Figure 1 is anelevation view of my invention showing theupper end of a split stale incased 'in a sheet metal casing, partsof the casing structure being shown in dotted lines; Fig. 2 is a view of the sheet metal casing before attachment to a stale, the lower portion being in cross-sectionto show the. means which holds the parts of the casing in assembled relation, the reinforcing portions on the inner flanges being shown in their positions beforebeing bent; p

Fig. 3 is a section taken on" the line 3?) ofFig.2; v

Fig.2]: is a view of the lower portion of the metal casing showing'one method of assembling the stale therewith to bend the reinforcing portion during the assembling operation; and

Fig. 5 is of the casing as viewed the flat face thereof.

Withreference to the drawings, I have shown a D-handlewhich includes a casing 1 preferably formed from sheet metal and combined with the split end of a stale Qand a i grip piece 3, as shown-in Fig.1. The general construction of the handle, except for the means by which the casing parts are secured together, andthe methodof assembly of the three parts of the handle is substantially the sameas shown and more fully described in 40 my co-pending application Serial No. 341,- 131, filed February19, 1929. My present invention relates to improvements in the casing and tea method of assembling the stale with the casing to bend the reinforcing members'asa part of the assembly operation Furthermore, mypresent invention is similar in constructionto my co-pending application Serial No.- 479,665 "filed herewith, and over which the present invention is an improvement. Therefore, I shall describe only so a view'of the lower end of one part when looklng toward muchof my device as is necessary for a clear 7 understanding of my present invention over the devices and methods more fully explained in the applications referred to above. i

The sheet metal casing 1 illustrated in the drawings is formed from two similarhollow sheet metal parts each of which is substantially semi-cylindrical in cross-section and is provided with a flat face formed by flanges 4, 4: bent inwardly and abutting at the center, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Theseinwardly bent flanges 4,4 terminate a substantial'distance from the stale1'eceiving endof the cas mg, Figs. 2 and 5, thereby leaving the lower portion open so that when the two pieces are secured together therewill be no partition in the center of the casing at thestale-receiving end thereof, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Each casing part is also provided with a vertical flange 5 at one end of the lower semi-cylindrical portion, while a reinforcing portion-6 is provided at the lower edge of that flange 4 which is located at the oppositesidelof the vertical axis of, the casing part, the'purposes of which will be more fully hereinafter described.

The two parts of the casing are assembled together, Fig. 2, in sucha manner that the flat face of one part faces the'flat face of the other part. Furthermore, the flange 5 of one part overlaps the cylindrical portion of the other part, Fig. 3, and each is welded to secure the parts of the casing in fixed as sembly. Each reinforcing portion 6 extends below a flange 4L and projects into a space pro vided by the D-shaped crosssection of a casing part. These reinforcing portions may be bent upwardly andagainst the inner faces of the flanges 41, as shown in Fig. 1, prior to insertion of the split stale, or, as will here: inafter be described, may be bent as a partof the assembly operation. The reinforcing portions 6 are provided to prevent spreading of the armsof the casing beyond the lower edges of the flanges & when the casing is spread into Y-shaped formation, as shown in Fig. 1. The reinforcing'portions 6 also help to prevent accidental splitting of-the stale when the handle is subjected to undue stress,

such, for instance, as when the handle is used for a pry.

The casing which is illustrated and described in my present application is decidedly stronger adjacent to the stale-receiving end than the casing shown anddescribed in my above-mentioned co-"pending': application Serial No. 341,131, because of the arrangement of the vertical flanges 5 with relation to the reinforcing portions 6? As above stated each part of the casing. has been so constructed that the flange 5' is located below one ofthe flanges 4, while the reinforcing portion 6 is located at the lower end of the other flange 4. Thus, it is possible to provide larger. flange portions 5 and reinforcing; portions (i'beca'use no portion of one istaken fronrthe' fiange'froln which 'the other :is formed; The result is. alarger: welded area and larger, and therefore more durable, reinforcing portions.

The "method ofassembling the stale 2 with the. CflSlDgi1 'lS,--lll general, substantially the sameas themethod more. fully illustrated and described in connection with-my co-pendin'g application Serial No. 341,131. There is an additional step in the method of assemblyo'f thepartsofthe presentstructure, however, inasmuch" as the reinforcing portions may be very readily pressed from the position shown in Fig.2 to theposition shown in Fig. 1 by the ends ofthe arms of the stale 2 when forced into thecasing, as clearly shown in Fig. 4.- Vhen this method of assembly 1 is followed the reinforcing portions are=clampc'ditightly between 1 the inner faces of the flanges 42 and the-sides of the arms of the stale and are, therefore, back supported.

lWy improved D handle structure isstrong, darableandrelatively inexpensive both from a standpoint of" simplicity of construction and reduction in the number of operations requiredifor assembly of parts of the casing and the stale" therewith, especially when the method Of'llPSGttlHgl the reinforcing I portion is'followe'das above described;

\Vhile' I have illustrated-1 and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, Ido not wish to be limited thereto, becausethe scope thercofis best. delincd by: the followmgr-claims.-

I- claim:

1:. The method of producing; a D handle which comprises. forminga metal part with two separateuparallel hollow arms secured together at their lower ends and"havingireinforcing portionsextending into the hollow arms at the upper endof'the portion where they are secured together, forcing meansinto the hollow arms thereby bending the reinforcing portions into positions for-reinforcing the c'onnectionbetween the hollow arms, liending'the arms-and means forced into them .intodiverging-relation and securing a grip piece between the diverged ends of the arms.

2. The method of: prodi'icing a D handle which comprises forming a metal part with two separate parallel hollow arms secured together at their lower ends and having reinforcing portions extending into the hollow arms at the upper end of the portion where they aresecured togetherndividing one end of za stem longitudinally totprovide apa-ir of connecting portions, forcing the portions into the hollow arms thereby bending the reinforcing aortion's intopositi'ons for reinforcing. the connection between the. hollow arms, bending the arms and'connecting portions forced into them .into divergingwrelation and securing-a grip piece between the diverged ends of the arms.

3. The method of: producing a. D handle having:aunetal part comprising two tubular portions each having; longitudinal flange portions overlapping: the other part atone end of the metal partandrhavingreinforcing portions extending into the hollow tubular. portionsadjacent to'the upper ends of said flanges which comprises securing-the two 1tu+ bular' portions together bywelding the-overlapping. flange portions,.bending. thereinforcing portions into positions forreinforcing. the connection betweenthe-two tubular portions duringthe attachment of-the metal part toarsplit stale;

t, The method of producin-ga D handle which comprises forming'a metal-part -with two separate parallel. hollow arms secured together. at their/lower ends anddravingreinforcing portions extending. 'into the hollow arms atthe upper end'of the. portion where they are secured together, forcing means into the hollow arms thereby bending; the reinforcing: portions into-positionsfor reinforcing. the connection between thehollow arms during the operation of attachingv the" stem to the metal part.

5. The method OfasSembling a longitudinally divided stale withametal casing-having a center partition dividingthe casing into taro hollow partsad-apted to receive the longitudinally divided portionofthe stale and reinforcingportions-extending from the partitionto intersect the hollow partsof the casing. which comprises inserting: the longitudinally divided portion of the stale into the casing,.the stale portions forcing the reinforcing portions against the partition during their entrance into the hollow parts-andthen spreading. the hollowpartsby dividing. the partition into 4 a Y-shaped formation to provide a. D-handle structure and the said reinforcing; portions backesupported by the stale portions preventing spreading of the hollowparts or splitting of the stalebeyond their pointsof connection with the partition.

6. The method of reinforcinga D.-handle structure having a casing; divided throughout the greater portion of its length into two hollow arms having flat inner faces and a stalesplit to provide arms-entering; the hollow arms of the casing which comprises providing reinforcing portions extending from the lower edges of the fiat inn-er faces of the casing and intersecting the hollow arms and bending the said reinforcing portions over the edges and against the inner faces of the opposed fiat faces 10 means of forcing the arms of the split sta e into the hollow arms, said reinforcing portions thereby preventing spreading of the casing or splitting of the stale be 0nd their point of connection with lower e ges of the edges of said flat faces.

In testimony .Whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

WILLIAM A. READY. 

